[Elecraft] QRP and Contesting

[Mike Dodd]

On 11/9/2022 6:18 PM, john at kk9a.com wrote:
> Al, if you called CQ at 30WPM and they answered at 45WPM and you had
> to ask for repeats, you are not the lid!

I'll toss in my two cents....

I have fair-to-middlin' CW skills, and I've operated a lot of CW 
contests. I was surprised and disappointed to hear so many high-speed 
ops in this year's CW SS. In past years, I've been pleased with the 
moderate speeds.

When I'm operating S&P, I almost always adjust my TX speed to match the 
running station's speed. it's only a hit or two on N1MM's Page Down key. 
I figure that's the considerate thing to do.

I can comfortably copy at 25 wpm, so that's the speed I call CQ. If 
someone answers faster than I can copy, I don't hesitate to send QRS. If 
he ignores that comes back still too fast, I'll just hit F1 to start 
another CQ.

If I can't copy part of his exchange, I'll ask for a repeat. There are 
plenty of reasons for bad copy, not just speed. QSB and QRM were present 
last weekend. I don't need to explain why I asked for a repeat!

One final comment regarding dupes. The contesting club to which I belong 
has a mantra: "work all dupes!" There is no penalty, but there is the 
possibility that one op or both busted a QSO, so the second one is 
insurance. Just work 'em. you might take small time hit, but how much 
time would you spend sending B4 or DUPE, then explaining to the other op 
why you won't work him again?

-- 
73, Mike N4CF
Louisa County, VA USA
Elecraft K4D / KPA500 / KAT500
Carolina Windom up 45'
http://n4cf.mdodd.com